Colorado Class Battleship (late 1942) - No Time For Refits, Make It Work!

[Hexa_Core2904]

[Would you like to see the late 1942 Colorado class in-game?]

• Yes
• Yes, but I prefer the other suggested configurations
• No

The Colorado class has already been suggested in both per-war and late war-configurations. I do not mean to steal the thunder of those posts. That said, most U.S. battleships in game are one of these two eras. I propose an earlier version, from when the future of the Pacific was at its most uncertain. Perhaps we could have a pre-war Maryland, an early war Colorado, and a late-war West Virginia? What do you think?

Colorado and Maryland were both spared from the fates of many other battleships at Pearl Harbor. Their sister West Virginia would not be usable again for several years. Being ready for service and with fears of imminent Japanese invasion of California rampant, these two ships were thrown into the thick of it with minimal refitting. They received some AA upgrades, but there was no time to upgrade their deck armor or superstructure. As such, these ships mark a transitionary period between the pre and post Pearl Harbor design. Both ships were extremely active in this configuration during the early US pacific campaigns in 1942 into 1943. It only seems fitting that they should have a place in-game to represent the Pacific Fleet’s darkest hours.

One of the most distinctive features is the lattice cage masts being intermixed with more modern fire control equipment. In particular, the upper section of the aft mast was cut-down on both Maryland and Colorado. They could not afford to take the time to replace it entirely, so an anti-aircraft platform was erected atop the former mast. The awkward turret-mounted catapult was removed, but the aft seaplane catapult was retained. Another transitionary piece was the single-mount 5in/38 guns. Most pre-war ships had less capable guns, and most post-retrofit ships received them in more advanced twin turret mounts. Dual gun turrets were not available in time, so the ships made do with replacing their 5in/25 guns with 5in/38 guns in single mounts. The casemate 5in/51 guns were still retained, however.

Specifications

Displacement: Between 32600 and 33600 tons depending on load
Maximum speed: 39kph
Crew: Between 1100 and 1400 (sources vary)
Aviation: One catapult for OS2U aircraft
Belt armor: 203-343mm
Deck armor: 76-158mm
Splinter deck: 33mm
Barbette armor: 330mm
Conning tower armor: 406mm
Turret armor: 457mm (front), 254mm (side), 229mm (back), 178mm (roof)
Underwater protection: torpedo bulge rated to withhold 181kg explosives
Main guns: 8 16in/45 (mark 5) cannons in four turrets
Secondary guns: 10 5in/51 casemate cannons
AA guns: 8 5in/38 guns (single mounts), 4 quad 40mm mounts, and 32 20mm autocannons.
Machinery: 8 boilers, 4 electric drives, and 4 screws

It is worth noting that the Colorado class employed the unusual configuration of not having geared turbines for the shafts. All boiler output was converted to electrical power. The shafts themselves were driven by separate electric motors. If nothing else, this at least meant the ship was easier to compartmentalize due to the lack of a need for steam flow to the propeller shafts

Additional Images of the Late 1942 Configuration

Sources

Colorado-class battleship

http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/C/o/Colorado_class.htm

Colorado class Battleships

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_16-45_mk5.php
https://www.navsource.org/archives/01/45a.htm
http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/46a.htm

See also

Colorado-class Battleship, USS Colorado (BB-45) - Ushering in a New Era

poll poll USS Colorado As Outfitted in 1922 [image] USS Colorado in San Diego, in 1924. Background USS Colorado was the lead ship of the Colorado-class battleships. She was laid down on the 29th of May, 1919, launched on the 22nd of March, 1921, and commissioned into the US Navy on the 30th of August, 1923. Ironically, she was the second ship of the class to be laid down, the first being Maryland. The Colorado-class battleships were adapted from the previous Tennessee-class, with the …

Colorado-class Battleship, USS Maryland (BB-46) - The Price of Upgrades is Being Late

poll poll USS Maryland As Outfitted in 1945 [image] USS Maryland off Bremerton Navy Yard following her final wartime overhaul, 1945. Background USS Maryland was the second ship of the Colorado-class battleships. She was laid down on the 24th of April, 1917, launched on the 20nd of March, 1920, and commissioned into the US Navy on the 21st of July, 1921. Ironically, she was the first of the class to be launched and commissioned. After the signing of the Washington Naval Treaty, the US,…

Colorado class battleship, USS Colorado (1944) - The battleship which missed...

[T3ddy4]

There are enough Colorados to have one in each configuration, so i’m sure one will come in a state like this, and we may very well get the Washington at some point as it passes Gaijins stance for adding incomplete vehicles.

[S3b5]

I might be a little bit biased, but I think late-war Maryland would be best. As I outined in the suggestion for her, Maryland was undergoing refit right at the tail end of the war and thus would have been the most modern of the class. West Virginia could be the mid-war one, as she had the CXAM radar fitted before the war I believe, or after being repaired, I don’t remember which. Which leaves a pre-war setting… which would be Colorado herself, or the incomplete Washington.

[jon_man1199]

A +1 from me; it would be neat to see the Colorado class represented in game!

@S3b5

I might be a little bit biased, but I think late-war Maryland would be best. As I outined in the suggestion for her, Maryland was undergoing refit right at the tail end of the war and thus would have been the most modern of the class. West Virginia could be the mid-war one, as she had the CXAM radar fitted before the war I believe, or after being repaired, I don’t remember which. Which leaves a pre-war setting… which would be Colorado herself, or the incomplete Washington.

I agree. I’d suggest Washington in her as-planned configuration and then have Colarado follow up with the late 30s fit. WWII-wise, have West Virginia in her famous 1944 configuration and then Maryland as she would have been Post-Refit

[Hexa_Core2904]

As a warning, I read the U.S. did not carry 16in HE until 1942. This HE could even be fired in a base fuse configuration and had thicker walls than most, so it could have some SAP abilities. But a ship prior to that would have AP only. I’m not sure that would be very popular, especially considering Gaijin had to arm USS North Dakota with shells she never got for the same reason.

[S3b5]

I’m aware. I think they would just give it HE anyway for use as a stock shell or something, even if it is out of time frame as at that point it would be for game balance. Which, at least for me, is fine.